A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Shanghai vs. Asuncion for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Shanghai or Asuncion?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Shanghai and Asuncion. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Shanghai or Asuncion?

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest and most modern city in China. With a population of over 23 million, it is the economic and financial hub of the country. It also continues to be one of the fastest growing cities in China with regular changes to the city's layout and skyline. It is not uncommon for buildings to be torn down, rebuilt and then torn down and rebuilt again. The city also has skyscrapers that rank among the tallest in the world. It has an ever changing downtown and street scape. In Shanghai, the general mantra remains "out with the old, in with the new".

Asuncion

Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Asuncion or Shanghai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $115, while the average daily cost in Asuncion is $67. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Shanghai and Asuncion in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Shanghai $81
    Asuncion $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Shanghai $162
    Asuncion $44
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and Asuncion

Looking for a hotel in Shanghai or Asuncion? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Shanghai


Hotels in Asuncion


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Asuncion Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Shanghai $3.87
    Asuncion $8.69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.59
  • Two Subway Tickets
    $0.83

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:

  • private transfer from Wusongkou CruisePort to Disneyland and back: $64
  • Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
  • Yiwu City Private Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport : $74
  • Yiwu Airport Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $20
  • Yiwu Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $20
  • Xitang Water Town Self-Guided Tour from Shanghai with Private Transfer: $100
  • Wusongkou Cruise Terminal to Hongqiao Airport Chauffeur Service, Port Transfer: $87
  • Wusongkou Cruise Terminal Share Transfer Service, Baoshan Port Pick up Service: $29
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Shanghai APT-HTL (PVG,SHA): $51
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in ShangHai HTL-APT (PVG,SHA): $51
  • Transfer From City to Shanghai Pudong Airport (English Driver): $68
  • Tongli Water Town Self-Guided Tour with Private Transfer from Shanghai: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion

Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer in private car from Asuncion City - Asuncion Airport (ASU): $20
  • Transfer in Private Car from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $21
  • Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $29
  • Transfer in private minivan Asuncion City - Silvio Pettirosi Airport (ASU): $29
  • RoundTrip Private Transfer Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $52
  • RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or Asuncion?

Prices for flights to both Asuncion and Shanghai change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Shanghai $21
    Asuncion $17
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai

Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:


  • Dumpling Breakfast
    $1.38
  • Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory
    $20
  • Ajisen Lunch for Two
    $7.18
  • Cantelope
    $1.66
  • Dumplings and Soup
    $2.07
  • Duck Dinner
    $4.14
  • Pastries
    $2.90
  • Barbeque Dinner
    $8.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.

  • Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
  • Online Cooking Class Dim Sum by Sunflower Li: $20
  • 3-Hour Biking and Local Food Tour: $70
  • Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
  • Late night food tour in Shanghai's French Concession: $85
  • Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
  • Shanghai's Koreatown Food Tour: $91
  • 4-Hour Food Tour in Qibao Water Town from Shanghai by Subway: $95
  • Shanghai Night River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer and Dinner Option: $130
  • Old Shanghai Beer Dinner Tour with Cruise Ride: $138
  • Private Wet Market Visit with Cooking Class in Shanghai: $138

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Shanghai $8.42
    Asuncion $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:


  • 30 Minute River Cruise for Two
    $28
  • Zoo for Two
    $14

Tours and Activities in Shanghai

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:

  • Half-Day Private Tour of Shanghai Bund with River Cruise or Tower View: $90
  • Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights: $108
  • Shanghai Layover Tour to Xinchang Water Town with City Highlights Option : $135
  • Zhouzhuang Water Town Self-Guided Day Tour from Shanghai: $88
  • 1 Day Shanghai Airport Layover Private Tour for City Highlights: $202
  • 1 Day Shanghai Highlight Small Group Tour: $124
  • 1 Day Shanghai Private Tour: $180
  • 1 day Shanghai to Hangzhou Mini Group Tour: $131
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Museum,Yu Garden,the Bund & Huangpu River Cruise : $213
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Shanghai Zhujiajiao Water Town,Nanjing Road and the Bund: $221
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Suzhou from Shanghai: $272
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town,the Bund and World Financial Center : $256

Tours and Activities in Asuncion

For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Asuncion: $34
  • Walking Tour with a Local in Asuncion "The Mother of Cities": $35
  • Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
  • Asuncion Birding Tour: $70
  • Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group: $85
  • Golden Triangle Tour: $110
  • Birding and Nature Chaco Tour: $140
  • Paraguay River Nature and Wildlife Boat Tour from Asunción: $160
  • Half-Day Yparacai Lake Tour from Asuncion with Pick Up: $185
  • Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”: $214
  • Day tour “Circuito Sapucai”: $221
  • Day tour “Pai Pukú”: $230

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Shanghai $7.35
    Asuncion $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai

Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Shanghai Pub Crawl - Bar-hopping/Night life tour: $27
  • Shanghai Luxury Bar Crawl in 5-star Hotel or Boutique Hotel: $255

Typical Alcohol Prices in Asuncion

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.21


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and Asuncion, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is Asuncion much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia and Asuncion is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Asuncion would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asuncion and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Shanghai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shanghai than you might in Asuncion.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Shanghai Expensive? and Is Asuncion Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Asuncion?

Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Asuncion. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai and Asuncion, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Shanghai or Asuncion?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Asuncion is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Shanghai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Shanghai or Asuncion in the Summer?

Both Asuncion and Shanghai during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Shanghai is generally around the same temperature as Asuncionin January. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 28°C (83°F), and Asuncion fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

In Asuncion, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Shanghai. In the summer, Shanghai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Asuncionin January. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asuncion receives 249 hours of full sun.

Asuncion gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets less rain in July than Asuncionin January. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Asuncion receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Shanghai 28°C (83°F) 
    Asuncion 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Shanghai or Asuncion in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Asuncion. Most visitors come to Shanghai for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Shanghai is cooler than Asuncion in the autumn. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Asuncion fluctuates around 24°C (75°F)in April.

Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Asuncion during autumn. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Asuncion receives 199 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Asuncion receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Asuncionin April. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Asuncion receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Shanghai 19°C (65°F) 
    Asuncion 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Shanghai or Asuncion in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Asuncion. The winter months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Shanghai can be very cold. In the winter, Shanghai is much colder than Asuncion. Typically, the winter temperatures in Shanghai in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Asuncion averages at about 19°C (66°F)in July.

In the winter, Shanghai often gets less sunshine than Asuncionin July. Shanghai gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asuncion receives 191 hours of full sun.

Shanghai usually gets more rain in January than Asuncionin July. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Asuncion receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Shanghai 4°C (39°F) 
    Asuncion 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Shanghai or Asuncion in the Spring?

Both Asuncion and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year.

In April, Shanghai is generally much colder than Asuncionin October. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 15°C (58°F), and Asuncion fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite sunny in Asuncion. Shanghai usually receives less sunshine than Asuncion during spring. Shanghai gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Asuncion receives 206 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asuncion. It's quite rainy in Shanghai. In April, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Asuncionin October. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Asuncion receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Shanghai 15°C (58°F) 
    Asuncion 25°C (77°F)

Typical Weather for Asuncion and Shanghai

Shanghai Asuncion
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (39°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 29°C (84°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Feb 5°C (41°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Mar 9°C (48°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Apr 15°C (58°F) 102 mm (4 in) 24°C (75°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
May 20°C (67°F) 113 mm (4.5 in) 21°C (70°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Jun 24°C (75°F) 152 mm (6 in) 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 128 mm (5 in) 19°C (66°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 133 mm (5.2 in) 21°C (70°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 156 mm (6.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 19°C (65°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 52 mm (2 in) 26°C (79°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Dec 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)